New rider, choosing 125

[ProjectZS]

Hi, thought I'd join a bike forum considering I'm finally able to save up for one. I've wanted a bike since the age of 14 however my dreams were crushed at 16 when my Mum said no. 3 years on and I'm an apprentice with Audi as a Tech, fancy mechanic basically so I've been saving once again for a bike and plan to get it around Christmas time. I'm big in to cars and currently have a rolling project so I'm all for doing my own maintenance/restoration etc. I've always had a soft spot for the Honda NSR125 and wondered what it's like to live with if anyone's had one? I've also looked at the RS125 but I know nothing really bikes at all especially 2t engines. I've done extensive work on 4c car engines, bottom and top end rebuild so I'm game for working on a bike as long as it's not every other day as I'm normally doing that on my car haha. Would you recommend leaving a 125 and just taking the full bike test as I'm 19 to get something bigger or best get a 125 just for experience? I've held a driving license for just shy of 2 years but it might be a completely different kettle of fish on a bike I wouldn't know. Anyway thanks for taking your time reading my life story haha any help is greatly appreciated!

[pinkyfloyd]

Do a CBT before you commit to a bike. Enjoy it go straight in for A2 DAS.

Buy an A2 bike and enjoy.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[notbike]

Buy my R125.

Nah I'm kidding, you should definitely go to the A2 route, I wish I did sooner. If you do decide to get a 125, it'll greatly help with your tests cause you can personally practice on them. However having said that, I went through my training school with a student who had never ridden a bike, and we pretty much performed exactly the same on the tests despite me having ridden a 125 for months prior. Although he had a couple more lessons than me for Mod 2.. that couldda also helped. But the point is, you don't need a 125 to pass to get your A2 license, and A2 bikes are that much more fun than an unresponsive slow 125. You will not be legally able to ride an unrestricted 2t 125 if it makes too much power. Cant remember how much power you're allowed on CBT but I think most if not all 2t 125s exceed the power restriction.

So I'd grab the CBT, do some lessons, and see if you think you'd benefit from riding a 125 for a while (note this can also develop bad habits on the bike without the watchful eye of an instructor, you drive a car so your road-confidence is half there), or if you feel confident go straight into training for your tests.

I'm tired, I hope that made sense.

[Taught2BCauti...]

There's no power or cc limit on the CBT itself (I did my last one on a 600), as long as the instructor is qualified to take you on the road.

You can only ride up to 125cc and 14.6 bhp after you have your CBT though.

Depending on what machines the riding school have, this is a good opportunity to try different makes and models to see what you are comfortable with.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[pinkyfloyd]

[lynnnsr]

I had an 03 NSR125 as a first bike which I used on L-plates for 2 years. Had to be better than the majority of 4 stroke 125s out there, but expect to have the spanners on it a fair bit.

Having said that, having been heavily into cars and mechanics for nearly 20 years, the NSR taught me loads about bikes, had the engine out and everything. And once I finally caught up with the maintenance neglected by the previous 5 owners, it was a great and reliable bike which I enjoyed very much.
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NSR 125 (with L-Plates) > 1994 NTV 650 > 2015 CB650F > 16 VFR800F

[ProjectZS]

Cheers guys. Also I'm sure this has been asked many times, but is the CBT difficult? I picked up driving pretty quick but my step dad reckons that I should practice going up and down my road before making a fool of myself on the day of the course....I would have thought my road sense gained from years of cycling and driving would definitely be a bonus for the road section as I know the highway code/lanes to be in etc etc however handling a bike much heavier compared to a bmx may be a little daunting haha. I think I'm sold on the NSR so I'd hope to at least go up and down my drive on it before taking the course.

[Rogerborg]

Cycling experience will stand you in good stead, and it is supposed to be Compulsory Basic Training.

But there's a lot to take in and a different set of muscle-memory to build up so don't fret if you take a while. Having got used to dragging the clutch up and down your private land[*] for a bit should help. Just like with a car, clutch control is vital at low speed.

I went out on to the pad with the CG125s thinking "Oh, that's just a pushbike with a little engine in i.... OMFG, the weight!"

But now a 125 does feel like a toy. It's (mostly) relative and down to your expectations.

[*] Technically, any area to which the public such as posties, salesweasels and neighbours enjoy a general right of access is a public place and you "should" be insured. That includes driveways unless gated or clearly signed as removed right of access. Careful Now.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[notbike]

[pinkyfloyd]

Part of me wants to say yes, it is difficult. The truth of the matter is, and always seems to be, it's harder than you think.

The learning curve for a CBT is very steep and it gets steep very quickly. We do not just break you in gently. Take car lessons as a comparison. In your first lesson you cover clutch control and stopping and that is pretty much it. The instructor takes you somewhere quite for the most part and you drive around a little estate and a few quiet streets. It's not until you have had a good few lessons that you start doing the more complex elements.

On a CBT, when you start riding after the talking elements you are thrown in at the deep end. A few hours later you have covered slow control, U turns, braking including emergency stops, junctions.And then take you out on the busy roads and put everything into practice.

If you listen to what the instructor tells you, stay calm and do not get frustrated with yourself when you dump the clutch or forget to look where you want to go you'll be fine.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Wonko The Sane]

[Taught2BCauti...]

If you want to have a play on a motorbike before your CBT, there are some places that offer an experience as part of the 'Get On' scheme - https://www.geton.co.uk

You book in at a local centre and... well, see for yourself!
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[northernsky]

I've a Honda Shadow 125, riding around on my L plates. its nice and comfy if you like cruiser style although turning is a bit harder probably
its great experience and I'm happy to get that in before doing a test

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Val]

you do not need license to ride a bike on a private land.

Find a mate with enduro and try some riding off road.
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Barnoe]

I drove a car for 26 years before i started to learn to ride a bike, and in my opinion the 2 are nothing alike!
The road signs are the same but travelling on a bike and in a car, i find totally different.

on the CBT just take it easy and if your struggling with something TELL them.... they will give you tips and educate you.

Its the first step to getting on the road and a bike, so enjoy it

[pinkyfloyd]

[ProjectZS]

Thanks once again. As others have said, nerves sometimes get the better of people in front of groups in which the same applies to me. Last thing I want to do is fall of doing a U turn or drop the bike when braking etc etc in front of a group of people especially chavs in which from where I live, the CBT will mostly be chavs haha. Some of these answers have gotten me a little worried. I'd love to be able to do the CBT before getting a bike, that way I could then get insured and taxed and ride it home, plus know one else really in my family could ride the bike back if I hadn't yet done the CBT as they work in the day. My main concerns are doing the U turn, figure of 8 and emergency stop. Are these really as difficult as I think? I remember thinking that I was never going to get driving after my first lesson but a month on everything was second nature. I haven't ridden a cycle in a while apart from the other day and my balance was a little ropey at slow speed haha, with the added weight of a bike I wouldn't want to drop it and make a fool out of myself. I'm probably getting myself worked up about it what you guys think?

[Andy_Pagin]

You're over thinking yourself into a fluster, have another day twiddling around on a bicycle to get your balance confidence then just do the CBT without caring a fuck about the brain-dead chavs. CBT is very basic and almost impossible to fail.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[pinkyfloyd]

As Andy said, you are over thinking.

All of the exercises you will do on the CBT will be demonstrated, talked through and you will have a good understanding of what is required.

Where are you based? Because if it is near me I'd take you for your CBT happily.

As for being worried about making a fool of yourself by dropping it, I've been an instructor for around a year now and in that time there is not much I haven't seen.

Relax, stop thinking and as my boss would say. Just get fkin on with it!
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[ProjectZS]

[pinkyfloyd]

Miles away buddy. I'm gosport/portsmouth based.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Wonko The Sane]

Stop thinking about it and get it booked.

The get on sessions someone mentioned are good, I did one a year before my CBT and was one to one learning to ride in a circle

I have a lovely statement written down clearly stating that my dyspraxia affects my ballance and coordination severely enough that I should struggle to ride a pushbike.

My restricted licence de-restricts later this year allowing me to ride anything.

If you are really trying to follow what your instructor is saying then you'll be ok. It's the instructors job to adjust their teaching style to suit. At some places they may have a couple of instructors and swap around to find personality and teaching style that suits.

If they're aware you aim to get a full licence they want you to do well and be happy so that you choose to do full license with them.

If you run out of time and don't complete CBT in one day, no worries, go back and complete the next day, if not happy with the teaching you've received then treat the day as a warm up and go elsewhere.
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Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[ProjectZS]

I might just see if I can do it on a scooter just to get used to the weight then if and when I am successful I can just practice getting used to the clutch. If going on a scooter means getting through the CBT first time, then I'm willing to do that and learn gears in my own time. I got myself worked up about my driving test, yet passed 1st time after 3 1/2 months hence why I can't bear the thought of me failing to complete the CBT....

[pinkyfloyd]